Here are the books, movies, and music staff enjoyed in 2023!
Some music and movies are not available in physical form to circulate but the platforms they are on are noted. Make sure to scroll to the bottom where we feature favorites that weren’t published in 2023 but were discovered and enjoyed this year. Titles are linked up to the catalog so you can easily check availability.
Adult Fiction Books
- Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
- The Devil’s Playground by Craig Russell (complicated, noir, intense)
- Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie (spooky, alternative, modern)
- Ghost Music by An Yu (uncanny, atmospheric, emotional)
- How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (creepy, emotionally charged, campy)
- A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander
- Rouge by Mona Awad (mind-bending, gothic, thriller)
- Starling House by Alix Harrow (gothic, creepy, funny)
- Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea
- The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett (curious, alternative, mysterious)
- The Whispers by Ashley Audrain (gossipy, twisty, mysterious)
- Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barratt
Adult Non-fiction Books
- Above Ground: Poems by Clint Smith
- All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore
- Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar
- The Green Dumb Guide to Houseplants by Holly Theisen-Jones
- Hope is the First Dose by W. Lee Warren
- Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English by Valerie Fridland (thought-provoking, informative, approachable)
- Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond
- Prairie Up by Benjamin Vogt (helpful, instructive, beginner-friendly)
- Seed to Table: A Seasonal Guide to Organically Growing, Cooking and Preserving Food at Home by Luay Ghafari
- What the Dead Know by Barbara Butcher (brutal, honest, nuanced)
YA Books
- Family Style by Thien Pham (graphic novel)
- A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat (graphic novel)
- Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (character-driven, thought-provoking, emotional)
- Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz (gothic, realistic fantasy, immersive)
- Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (sweet, honest, timely)
Children’s Books
- Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang
- The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
- The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy
- Our Incredible Library Book and the Wonderful Journeys It Took by Caroline Crowe (adventurous, joyous, wonderful)
- The Skull by Jon Klassen
- Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle by Joseph Coelho
- Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight by Melissa Stewart
- A Walk In The Woods by Nikki Grimes, Jerry Pinkney, Brian Pinkney
- Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great by Sandra Boynton (uplifting, fun, exuberant)
Movies
- The American Buffalo by Ken Burns (documentary)
- The Blackening (satirical, funny, horror)
- A Haunting in Venice (suspenseful, dark, brooding)
- Judy Blume Forever (documentary on Amazon Prime; feminist, powerful, hopeful)
- Oppenheimer (moody, historical, high stakes)
- Past Lives (intimate, thought-provoking, bittersweet)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (family-fun, nostalgic, fast-paced)
Music
- Black Rainbows by Corrine Bailey Rae (pop/rock; powerful, bold, expansive)
- D-Day by Agust D (rap; intense, thoughtful, hopeful)
- Multitudes by Feist (alternative pop/rock; intimate, vibrant, deep)
- New Blue Sun by André 3000 (new age on streaming platforms; atmospheric, magical, moody)
- Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor (electronic; dark, fresh, frenetic)
- This is Why by Paramore (rock; moody, serious, edgy)
Better Late Than Never – titles released in prior years but consumed and enjoyed in 2023
- Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz (2022 YA fiction; gothic, realistic fantasy, immersive)
- Before I Go by Brian Charles (2022 adult fiction)
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry (2022 adult fiction; heart-warming, romantic, funny)
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (2021 adult non-fiction; emotional, compelling, memoir)
- Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn (2022 adult fiction; intense, historical, romance)
- The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline (2020 adult fiction)
- Flamboyant by Dorian Electra (2020 pop on streaming platforms; fun, high energy, different)
- The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (2020 adult fiction)
- How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis (2022 adult non-fiction; powerful, practical, compassionate)
- In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God by Colleen Chao (2022 adult non-fiction)
- Linger Awhile by Samara Joy (2022 jazz CD; warm, lovely, rich)
- Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan (2022 adult fiction)
- Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Boylan (2022 adult fiction; eye-opening, character-driven, emotional)
- Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier (2021 children’s picture book; sweet, hilarious, cute)
- The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (2020 adult fiction; unique, unsettling, gritty)
- A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (2022 adult fiction; cozy, hopeful, funny)
- Sensor by Junji Ito (2021 YA graphic novel; intriguing, creepy, mind-bending)
- Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office by Brian Baumgartner (2021 adult nonfiction; funny, nostalgic, fast-paced)
- Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon (2020 adult fiction)